Illness took Afriszal’s career but not his compassion

2026-03-08 - 23:24

Despite his illness, Afriszal Ismail and his wife feed and rescue stray animals whenever they can. (Afriszal Ismail pic) SUBANG JAYA: On some mornings, Afriszal Ismail wakes up unsure whether his body will cooperate. The medication he takes is strong – steroids, injections, creams, and powerful pills that sometimes leave him weak. Still, whenever he can, he gets up and goes to work. “If my condition is OK, then I do Grab. Usually I force myself. I don’t like to ask people for money. I have to work,” Afriszal told FMT Lifestyle. For him, working is about dignity. Even though his illness has taken away the career he once loved, he refuses to depend entirely on others. “I don’t do charity, and if I depended entirely on my wife, I don’t think we could cope financially,” the Alor Setar, Kedah-born explained. Yet the real challenge of his daily life is not his health or finances. Waiting for him at home is a responsibility that would overwhelm most people: two dogs and over 40 rescued cats! Afriszal, who is of Thai-Malay descent, once lived a very different life. “I was a professional chef,” the 53-year-old revealed. His career once took him to various countries, where he helped open F&B outlets and resorts. “I travelled everywhere,” he recalled. “If I wanted something, I could buy it.” These felines – numbering more than 40 in all – call Afriszal’s house their home. (Afriszal Ismail pic) But more than a decade ago, Afriszal developed lichen planus, a chronic inflammatory disease that forced him to step away from the kitchen. Doctors warned that, after so many years, the condition carries serious risks. “They said I also have a model and pattern for cancer because it has been too long already,” he said. The treatment itself can be difficult. A course of newer medication available at government hospitals costs about RM8,000 for four months – a sum Afriszal must raise on his own. Still, he tries to remain positive: “As long as we have a chance to wake up every day, that is already something.” This same outlook fuels the work he and his wife continue doing for stray animals despite their financial constraints. “These animals have no one. We know that animals can survive on their own – but some of them are destined to be together with you,” Afriszal said. “Some people tell me not to do this because of my illness, or because I don’t have enough money. But if we don’t help them, who will?” Jack is one of two rescued dogs in Afriszal’s care. (Afriszal Ismail pic) The rescue work started simply: someone had suggested to Afriszal that he should help others and do some good after his diagnosis. So, he and his spouse began feeding two stray dogs in their neighbourhood. “Eventually, we realised we had so many ‘kids’!” he said with a laugh. “Somehow, we kept coming across stray cat after stray cat.” At one point, their home sheltered more than 100 felines. But when Afriszal’s wife suddenly fell seriously ill and had to be hospitalised for nearly three months, they were forced to make a heartbreaking decision. “I had to let some of the cats go,” Afriszal said quietly. Today, about 40 of them remain. At home, their two dogs – Jack and Gib – live comfortably among the rescued cats. Jack, he shared, arrived unexpectedly during the pandemic. “He came from nowhere, begging for food. Then, suddenly, he didn’t want to leave.” Afriszal carries kibble and wet food with him to feed any strays he encounters. (Afriszal Ismail pic) Gib’s story is even more personal: the dog had been adopted as a puppy from a shelter and gifted to Afriszal’s wife. “My friend told me to open the cage and let the puppy choose (its humans). Gib went straight to my wife,” Afriszal recalled fondly. Until today, more than 10 years later, the bond between her and Gib remains incredibly strong. Looking after so many animals comes with its own challenges. There are days when money runs low and the couple must stretch whatever food they have. “We tell them, ‘This is only what we can afford today. Don’t worry about tomorrow’,” Afriszal said. And yet, in the same breath, he asserted: “What we want is a better tomorrow. They are our children. We want to take care of them.”